Can perforator and closure



Patented June 9, 1942 umrsn srr e 2 Claims.

In the canned foods industry, sanitation is one of the important problems. And that the consumer may be assured of preserving germ-free cleanliness until the contents of the can are emptied, it is essential that some convenient and sanitary means of perforating the cans be supplied; and further, where the contents are not all emptied at one time, that a tight and secure means of closing the once opened can be available. At present, the usual practice is to puncture the cans containing liquids, as milk or cream, at one or more places at the top, and leave the can unprotected until it is finally emptied.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide an easy and sanitary means of perforating a can, and also a tight and convenient closure for the once opened can. My invention will be easily understood in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view showing my device secured to the top of a can, such for example as is used for containing evaporated milk; Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are, respectively, views in side, front and rear elevation in which the means for clamping my device to the can is clearly indicated; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken on line 5--5 of Figure l.

The present opener and closure is simple in construction and operation. It is adapted for use on a conventional can having a fiat top a with a surrounding bead 1) adjacent thereto. The opener comprises a frame 6, here shown as U-shaped, and equipped at its free ends with fingers 1 adapted to engage the bead at spaced 7 points adjacent the can top. At the opposite or rear end of the frame is an elongated inwardly curved hook B so formed as to clamp securely under the bead adjacent the can top. The front fingers which depend at substantially right angles from the frame are adapted to be fitted snugly over the bead of the can, and in conjunction with the hook permit the opener to be easily slid on and secured to the can top.

Associated with the frame is a spring lever L having a rear straight portion 9, and a bowed arm It. The arm H3 is normally bowed from end to end, the curve here shown being upward. The lever is pivoted to the frame as by means of a tongue I i bent upwardly from the frame to pass through a slot l2 in the lever.

The lever arm 10 carries two punches l3 at spaced points on its under side. These punches are desirably of non-corrosive metal so as to remain rust-free and sanitary. By exertion of downward pressure on the arm the punches are caused to perforate the top of the can at two places. This downward pressure not only performs a punching operation but causes the arm to straighten out against its own inherent tension. Because of this change in shape the angular relationship of the axes of the two punches is changed from that which normally exists, the distance of separation between the two punches being also increased in consequence.

Upon release of pressure upon the arm the normal bow tends to return, and the punches tend to resume their normal relative axial positions with a slight inward movement of each toward the other. These two movements result in an enhanced frictional pressure against the sides of the holes punched in the top. This friction which is exerted laterally against the sides of the holes that are nearest each other is sufiicient to hold and retain the punches in place whereby they serve as closures up to the time that the lever is forcibly lifted, as by a down pressure on its rear end. The length of the lever may be such as to slightly overlap the edge of the can whereby to facilitate removal ofthe punches from the perforated can.

The many advantages of my invention are obvious. It is an inexpensive, simple device, yet it fills a long felt need in that it combines a sanitary perforating device and a simple and secure closure for the once opened can.

I claim:

1. For use with a can having an end adjacent an annular bead, a combined opener and closure device wherein is comprised a frame adapted for extension across the can end, means depending from opposite ends of the frame in position to engage with and frictionally lock the frame to the bead in a fixed position across the can end, a lever of the second class pivoted to the frame adjacent one end thereof adapted to extend crosswise of the can end and mounted for swinging movement in a fixed path toward and from the same, the lever being formed of spring material normally bowed outwardly from the can end, a pair of widely spaced substantially cylindrical punches provided with piercing points and carried by the lever and normally projecting therefrom in converging relation toward the can end and down thereupon to pierce the can end at two separated points, said lever, during the piercing operation, being normally straightened in a manner whereby the two openings formed in the can end are further separated than the piercing points when the piercing operation has been completed, the two punches, after release of pressure from the lever, tending to engage laterally with substantial friction against the edges of the openings formed in the can end, and to remain tensioned therein to provide a normally maintained closure therefor.

2. For use with a can having an end provided with an annular head, a combined opener and closure device including a frame adapted for extension across the can end, means depending from opposite ends of the frame for engaging and frictionally locking the frame to the bead in fixed position across the can end, a lever pivoted to the frame adapted to extend cross-wise of the can end and swing toward and away from the same, the lever being formed of spring material of predetermined resiliency and being normally bowed outwardly from the can end, a punch having a piercing point carried by the lever adjacent its outer free end designed for engagement with the can end at an inclined with respect to the can end when the bowed lever is positioned in close proximity to the latter, the piercing point of said punch being adapted to slide on the upper surface of the can end away from the pivotal point of said lever while at the same time the punch assumes a position normal to the can end immediately prior to piercing of the can end when operating pressure is applied to the lever tending to straighten the same, the lever, after release of operating pressure, tending to return to its bowed condition with the punch engaging the edge of the opening laterally and under pressure of the spring lever with the piercing point thereof underlying said edge to restrain movement of the lever away from the can end and provide a closure for the pierced opening.

FRANK F. STORCK. 

